The State Employees Retirement Commission and the state employees retirement system, as existing on September 30, 1961, shall be continued in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this chapter. Each person who was a member of the system on said date shall continue to be a member. All retirement salaries being paid on said date from the General Fund or the Retirement Fund shall continue to be paid from the General Fund or Retirement Fund, as the case may be. All service and contributions credited to a member for retirement purposes on said date shall remain credited.